Life-preserver.



D. LYMAN.

LIFE PEESBBVER.

APPLICATION FILED 1:20.11, 1913.

Patented July 7, 1914-.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

JNVENTOR fio/v LyM/v/v ATTORNEYS D. LYMAN.

LIFE PRBSERVBR.

APPLICATION FILED 1:30.11, 1913.

1,102,772. Patented July 7, 1914.

. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSE8 "WEI/TOR mom/m UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

DO N LYMAN, OF TWIN FALLS, IDAHC. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO F. HARVEY ILARTWELL Am ONE-FOURTH TO RUTH VIGLFE, BOTH OF TWIN FALLS, IDAHO.

LIFE-PRESERV ER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1914 Application filed December 11, 1913. Serial No. 805.849.

mit of unobstructed use of the limbs of the wearerand of his eyes, nose and mouth and to exclude water from his person and protect him from floatingobstacles and wreckage In carrying outmy invention I provide a suit including a body portion to Wl'llCll leg andarm coverings with appendant feet and hand coverings are attached and to which is alsoat t-ached a .hood portion having a facial opening atthe front thereof, the entire suit being :formed of a suitable water excluding material and flexible throughout and the body having a front opening through which extends a flexibie tubular lining through which the suit may .be entered, this lining being subsequently drawn together and tied and thrust Within the front of the suit, the lapped edges of the front opening of t-l1e',b0dy' portion being subsequently fastened. In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure l is a front elevation; "Fig. 2 is'a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a central vertical section with the lower leg portions broken away; Fig. ,4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 4-1- of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the front of the body opened and the lining extendedand. opened for entering the suit. i

Referring now to these figures, A indicates the body portion, provided with a front opening at extending from a point somewhat aboveithe waist-line to a Point somewhat below the neck and having lapping edges' provided with relatively engaging fastening members as indicated at a for securing the same together to close the opening. As will be seen particularly in Figs. 1 and 5, the lower-front portion of the body A is of increased proportions tolprovide a fullness for facilitating the entrance to and exit from the garment, this fullness being taken up after entrance of the wearer -the front opening a.

in .the form of a plait indicated at A, the lapping portions of which are provided with relativ ly engaging fastening members indicated are: The body A is made to fit loosely upon the body of the wearer and from its lower end depend leg portions B at the lower ends of which are feet B. From the upper side portions of the body depend the arm coverings or sleeves C at thelower ends of which are hand-coverings or gloves C and it is to be understoodithat it is within the province of the present invention to form theiegs, feet, sleeves and gloves or hand-coverings either by weaving the same integral with the body Aor forming thesame'in separate ;parts to be attached to one another and tothe body by seams adapted either to exclude water due to their particular formation or to be rendered vso by the npplicationiof suitable water ex eluding cement or rubber composition, it being important in each instance that the natural flexibility of the material be retained so far as possible in-order that free movements of the wearer will not be im-' paired or obstructed. To the neck of the body portion A is adapted the hood or, head-covering D, having at itsfront a face opening at which is preferably of a circular form as particularly shown in.Fig. 1

and of suchproportions asthat its edge will lie against the forehead, cheeks and chin of. the wearer and thus expose the eyes, nose and mouth.

VVithin the garment are disposed a plurality offlexible aircontainers to be suitably inflated, one of these air containers being shown at E and extending entirely around the garment belowthe lower end of Another container F extends upwardly along and entirely across the rear portion of the body A and apair of similarly shaped containers G and G extend upwardly along opposite sides of the front of the body ii one upon each side of its opening a. Stillanother container extends upwardly around the rear portion of the hood or head-covering D and windicated at H, it being noted that ca containers is formed by an im mental piece I, the edges of whi' ably secured to the inner surface of the garment so as to form a pocket-"to receive a fiexiblefiutlntablc in'uer member I as particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Secured at its inner end around the front opening a is a flexible tubular lining K which may be extended outwardly as shown H are provided with inflating tubes 6, f, g, g

and h respectively whereby they may be 1nflated to a desired point after entrance into the suit either by the wearer or by a suitable pump used ,exteriorly thereon, it being of course within the province of the invention to either close these tubes by tying or to provide the same with the well-known air 'v'alves as used in connection with the valve tubes of inflatable tires, or whatare known as pillow valves Preferably the several con-\ tainers are inflated to such an extent as to cause them to press closely against the wearer in order to assist in preventing the communication of the chill of cold water to him as well as to protect his body from the shock of-floating obstacles and wreckage, in

addition to which the air container Hwithin the hood or head-covering D is inflated to such an extent as to draw the edge of the face opening (5 snugly against the face of the wearer to prevent the entrance of moisture in rough water.

A life preservin garment or suit of the character describe will effectively protect and keep the wearer afloat, will permit of the unobstructed use of his body and limbs as well as permit him to breathe freely and see clearly. It is ossible for the'wearer-to maintain himself either in a vertical or hori- I Ca "zontal position in water and to escape the deadly chill of intense cold. It will also be noted that a life preserving suit or garment of the presentstructure may be entered and properly secured by theuser, without 'aid or assistance from others, and when so secured, will serve to-retain the heat of the users body toobviate suffering in cold weather. It 'is to be also noted that one or more pockets indicated at M may be provided in the garment or suit for the reception of certain necessary articles including a bottle 'of fresh water, a small supply of condensed food and a flashlight.

I claim:

1. A life preserving garment of the character described comprising a body portion hav' a front openin provided with lap gd edges and with f astening members .for'securing the edges together in closed position, a hood projecting upwardly from the body, legs and sleeves depending from the lower and side portions of the body and respectively provided with foot and handcoverings, and a flexible lining of tubular form secured at its inner end around the front opening of the body and adapted to be extended through said opening when the lapped edges are disconnected, for the purpose described.

2. A life preserving garment of the character described comprising a body portion having a front opening provided with lapped edges and with fastening members for securing the edges together in crossed position, a hood projecting upwardly from v the body, legs and sleeves depending from the lower and side portions of the body and respectively provided with foot and handcoverings, a flexible lining of tubular form secured at its inner end around the front opening of the body and adapted to be extended through said opening when the lapped edges are disconnected, and a flexible tie member for closing the outer end of the tubular lining, all for the purpose described.

3. A life preserving garment of the character described comprising a body portion and a hood, sleeves and leg portions extend ing from the body portion, the body portion having a front opening and a substan:

tially increased fullness'adjacent its lower end and the lower end of the opening, fastening members for securing the edges of the opening in lapped relation, and fastening members secured to the lower front of the body portion whereby the fullness may be taken up in the form of a plait when the garment isin use.

4; A life preserving garment of the character described, comprlsing a body portion having a front opening provided with lapped edges and with fastening members for securing the edges together in closed position, a hood projecting upwardly from the body, legs and sleeves depending'from the lower and side portions of the body and respectively provided with foot and hand coverings, a flexible tubular lining secured at its inner end around the front opening of the body and adapted to be extended through the body opening when the lapped edges thereof are disconnected, and a plurality of air containers, certain ofwhich are arranged in the hoodand in the body of thegarment in order to protect the wearer in, water and provide the necessary buoyancy.

DON LYMAN.

W'itnesses:

LUCILLE JACKSON, FRANCES LYMAN. 

